Sigma Sigma Sigma
Encyclopedia
Sigma Sigma Sigma also known as Tri Sigma, is a national American women’s sorority with membership of more than 100,000 members. Sigma Sigma Sigma is a member of the National Panhellenic Conference
and hosts chapters on more than 110 college
campuses and 89 alumnae chapters in communities all over the world.
, Virginia
(now known as Longwood University
) was the state’s first institution to open its doors to teacher education, at a time when higher education for women was a highly debated topic. Eight students (Margaret Batten, Louise Davis, Martha Trent Featherston, Isabella Merrick, Sallie Michie, Lelia Scott, Elizabeth Watkins, and Lucy Wright) formed a special bond while studying for their future teaching careers. Lelia Scott and Lucy Wright led the first meetings of their secret society, the S.S.S. Club, in 1897. On April 20, 1898, these women officially announced the founding of the Greek letter society known as Sigma Sigma Sigma.
At the same time, Lucy Wright’s roommate, Julia Tyler, worked to form Kappa Delta
sorority. In the fall of 1898, Zeta Tau Alpha
was founded, followed by the founding of Alpha Sigma Alpha
in 1901. These four sororities were all founded at the State Female Normal School and were henceforth referred to as the Farmville Four.
In its first decade, Tri Sigma recognized the need for both legal recognition as a social body and a written record of organization. Therefore, they filed documents with the Commonwealth of Virginia and received their Charter of Incorporation on February 12, 1903. Tri Sigma's first constitution was adopted by its first chapter, the Alpha Chapter, in April 1903.
In the first decade since its inception, giant steps were taken in laying the groundwork of the sorority’s foundation. In 1915, Tri Sigma absorbed the two remaining chapters of Sigma Delta Chi sorority. Additional collegiate chapters were established and all members met at a convention. As the sorority grew, the national nature of Tri Sigma solidified with the standardization of a ceremony for new members and the creation of a program to celebrate the day that Sigma Sigma Sigma was founded, Founders Day.
Each initiated member receives the latest edition of Tri Sigma's story, The Years Remembered of Sigma Sigma Sigma, and The Path from Farmville, which chronicles the beginnings of each collegiate chapter as well as the evolution of the national organization. Members also receive a lifetime subscription to the national magazine of Sigma Sigma Sigma, The Triangle of Sigma Sigma Sigma, which is published three times a year.
The circle of friendship that began in the 1890s, with eight women sharing common experiences, now encompasses more than 100,000 women representing the diversity found on the college campuses of today. The growth and change that occurred in the many decades to follow always stayed true to the ideals of friendship espoused by the founders.
Sigma Sigma Sigma reaffirms its long standing core values of wisdom, power, faith, hope and love.
On September 15, 1951, Robbie Page, the son of Tri Sigma’s National President, died of bulbar polio. At that time, there was no cure or prevention for polio. This prompted Robbie’s parents, Robert and Mary Hasting Holloway Page, to establish a memorial fund in honor of their son. Tri Sigma adopted the Robbie Page Memorial as its official philanthropy in 1954. In its early years, the RPM supported various polio research projects, including the Salk vaccine
trials. The RPM now focuses on supporting play therapy for hospitalized children, and providing support for playrooms, libraries, and programs for children undergoing long-term hospital care. Current national efforts are centered in funding fellowships at the Children’s Medical Center in Dallas
, Texas
, and in funding graduate assistantships at the University of North Carolina
Hospitals in Chapel Hill
, North Carolina
. The National Therapeutic Recreation Society has recognized Sigma Sigma Sigma for their gracious support of Child Life and Play Therapy Programs.
at the Mabel Lee Walton House. Named after the sorority’s third National President, the Walton House serves as the main operations center of Tri Sigma, where day-to-day business is conducted. Walton House was acquired in 1963 and was purchased, furnished, and is maintained by the contributions of individual members, and the dues and fees of alumnae and collegiate chapters. http://www.sigmasigmasigma.org/MeetUs.mvc/Headquarters/Content
(NPC) is an organization which fosters strong interfraternity relationships, assists collegiate chapters, partners with colleges and universities in maintaining high scholastic and social standards, and provides structure for and ensures continuous growth of the Greek system. The conference comprises 26 national general sororities or women’s fraternities, which focus on service, education, scholarship programming and social activities. Sigma Sigma Sigma is a member of the National Panhellenic Conference and has held the distinction of chairing the NPC once; Mary K. Barbee, Iota chapter, served as Chairman (the NPC’s highest leadership position) from 1981–1983.
National Panhellenic Conference
The National Panhellenic Conference , founded in 1902, is an umbrella organization for 26 national women's sororities.Each member group is autonomous as a social, Greek-letter society of college women and alumnae...
and hosts chapters on more than 110 college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
campuses and 89 alumnae chapters in communities all over the world.
History
In the 1890s, the State Female Normal School in FarmvilleFarmville, Virginia
Farmville is a town in Prince Edward and Cumberland counties in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 6,845 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Prince Edward County....
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
(now known as Longwood University
Longwood University
Longwood University is a four-year public, liberal-arts university located in Farmville, Virginia, United States. It was founded in 1839 and became a university on July 1, 2002...
) was the state’s first institution to open its doors to teacher education, at a time when higher education for women was a highly debated topic. Eight students (Margaret Batten, Louise Davis, Martha Trent Featherston, Isabella Merrick, Sallie Michie, Lelia Scott, Elizabeth Watkins, and Lucy Wright) formed a special bond while studying for their future teaching careers. Lelia Scott and Lucy Wright led the first meetings of their secret society, the S.S.S. Club, in 1897. On April 20, 1898, these women officially announced the founding of the Greek letter society known as Sigma Sigma Sigma.
At the same time, Lucy Wright’s roommate, Julia Tyler, worked to form Kappa Delta
Kappa Delta
Kappa Delta was the first sorority founded at the State Female Normal School , in Farmville, Virginia. It is one of the "Farmville Four" sororities founded at the university...
sorority. In the fall of 1898, Zeta Tau Alpha
Zeta Tau Alpha
Zeta Tau Alpha is a women's fraternity, founded October 15, 1898 at the State Female Normal School in Farmville, Virginia. The Executive office is located in Indianapolis, Indiana...
was founded, followed by the founding of Alpha Sigma Alpha
Alpha Sigma Alpha
Alpha Sigma Alpha is a US national sorority founded on November 15, 1901 at the Virginia State Female Normal School in Farmville, Virginia...
in 1901. These four sororities were all founded at the State Female Normal School and were henceforth referred to as the Farmville Four.
In its first decade, Tri Sigma recognized the need for both legal recognition as a social body and a written record of organization. Therefore, they filed documents with the Commonwealth of Virginia and received their Charter of Incorporation on February 12, 1903. Tri Sigma's first constitution was adopted by its first chapter, the Alpha Chapter, in April 1903.
Each initiated member receives the latest edition of Tri Sigma's story, The Years Remembered of Sigma Sigma Sigma, and The Path from Farmville, which chronicles the beginnings of each collegiate chapter as well as the evolution of the national organization. Members also receive a lifetime subscription to the national magazine of Sigma Sigma Sigma, The Triangle of Sigma Sigma Sigma, which is published three times a year.
Mission and values
Sigma Sigma Sigma exists to provide a lifelong sorority experience for women through ensuring a perpetual bond of friendship, developing a strong womanly character, and promoting high standards of ethical conduct.Sigma Sigma Sigma reaffirms its long standing core values of wisdom, power, faith, hope and love.
Motto
The open motto to Sigma Sigma Sigma is "Ever Forward," it is associated with our open symbol the Sailboat. Our closed motto is "Faithful Unto Death," this motto is associated with our closed symbol the Skull and Crossbones.Symbols
Tri Sigma's sailboat symbolizes continual forward motion- never moving backward, but progressing towards its destination.Philanthropy
The Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation is a non-profit corporation formed in 1984. The Foundation distributes funds for charitable, philanthropic, educational, and other benevolent purposes that focus its programs on the following categories: enhancing the leadership skills of modern-day women, providing grants and scholarships to students, and supporting play therapy programs for hospitalized children. The Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation centers its latter philanthropic efforts around the theme “Sigma Serves Children,” specifically through the Robbie Page Memorial (RPM).On September 15, 1951, Robbie Page, the son of Tri Sigma’s National President, died of bulbar polio. At that time, there was no cure or prevention for polio. This prompted Robbie’s parents, Robert and Mary Hasting Holloway Page, to establish a memorial fund in honor of their son. Tri Sigma adopted the Robbie Page Memorial as its official philanthropy in 1954. In its early years, the RPM supported various polio research projects, including the Salk vaccine
Polio vaccine
Two polio vaccines are used throughout the world to combat poliomyelitis . The first was developed by Jonas Salk and first tested in 1952. Announced to the world by Salk on April 12, 1955, it consists of an injected dose of inactivated poliovirus. An oral vaccine was developed by Albert Sabin...
trials. The RPM now focuses on supporting play therapy for hospitalized children, and providing support for playrooms, libraries, and programs for children undergoing long-term hospital care. Current national efforts are centered in funding fellowships at the Children’s Medical Center in Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and in funding graduate assistantships at the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
Hospitals in Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States and the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. The National Therapeutic Recreation Society has recognized Sigma Sigma Sigma for their gracious support of Child Life and Play Therapy Programs.
National headquarters
Tri Sigma’s National Memorial Headquarters is located in Woodstock, VirginiaWoodstock, Virginia
Woodstock is a town in Shenandoah County, Virginia, United States. It has a population of 5,097 according to the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Shenandoah County....
at the Mabel Lee Walton House. Named after the sorority’s third National President, the Walton House serves as the main operations center of Tri Sigma, where day-to-day business is conducted. Walton House was acquired in 1963 and was purchased, furnished, and is maintained by the contributions of individual members, and the dues and fees of alumnae and collegiate chapters. http://www.sigmasigmasigma.org/MeetUs.mvc/Headquarters/Content
National Panhellenic Conference
The National Panhellenic ConferenceNational Panhellenic Conference
The National Panhellenic Conference , founded in 1902, is an umbrella organization for 26 national women's sororities.Each member group is autonomous as a social, Greek-letter society of college women and alumnae...
(NPC) is an organization which fosters strong interfraternity relationships, assists collegiate chapters, partners with colleges and universities in maintaining high scholastic and social standards, and provides structure for and ensures continuous growth of the Greek system. The conference comprises 26 national general sororities or women’s fraternities, which focus on service, education, scholarship programming and social activities. Sigma Sigma Sigma is a member of the National Panhellenic Conference and has held the distinction of chairing the NPC once; Mary K. Barbee, Iota chapter, served as Chairman (the NPC’s highest leadership position) from 1981–1983.
National Presidents
- 1903–1908 Rhea Scott, Alpha chapter
- 1908–1913 Bess Brower Willis, Gamma chapter
- 1913–1947 Mabel Lee Walton, Gamma chapter
- 1947–1956 Mary Hastings Holloway Page Lovejoy, Alpha chapter
- 1956–1965 Margaret Freeman Dixon Everett, Sigma chapter
- 1965–1971 Nelda Francis Crawford, Alpha chapter
- 1971–1983 Helen Marie Eggert Snyder, Alpha Xi chapter
- 1983–1989 Mimi Brandt Hiner, Beta Xi chapter
- 1989–1995 Anne Buchler Williams, Gamma Eta chapter
- 1995–2001 Diana Hornick Sarber, Beta Mu Chapter
- 2001–2004 Mary K. Barbee, Iota Chapter
- 2004–2010 Laura Sweet, Alpha Sigma chapter
- 2010–Present Kaye Schendel, Gamma Phi chapter
Notable alumnae
- Carrie UnderwoodCarrie UnderwoodCarrie Marie Underwood is an American country singer-songwriter and actress who rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, in 2005...
(Alpha Iota) - American IdolAmerican IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
season four winner - Billie LettsBillie LettsBillie Letts is an American novelist and educator. She was a professor at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.-Family:She was married to professor-turned-actor Dennis Letts until his death in 2008, and is the mother of playwright/actor Tracy Letts, jazz musician/composer Shawn Letts, and Dana...
- Author of Where the Heart IsWhere the Heart IsWhere the Heart Is may refer to:In film:* Where the Heart Is , a film starring Dabney Coleman and Uma Thurman* Where the Heart Is , a film starring Ashley Judd and Natalie PortmanIn television:... - Linda DenhamLinda DenhamLinda B. Denham is the co-creator of the Care Bears franchise along with Elena Kucharik, the main artist for the toys in the 1980s. During that decade, Denham served as Director and Vice President of Marketing for the Kenner toy company; in 1985, she was involved in television commercials for its...
- Creator of the Care BearsCare BearsThe Care Bears are characters created by American Greetings in 1981 for use on greeting cards. The original artwork for the cards was painted by artist Elena Kucharik. In 1983, Kenner turned the Care Bears into plush teddy bears... - Gladys Morelock - Superintendent of US Mint
- Mary Rhodes RussellMary Rhodes RussellMary Rhodes Russell is a judge on the Supreme Court of Missouri, appointed in 2004 by Governor Bob Holden, a Democrat....
- Supreme Court Judge - Krystle Kitchen (Zeta Pi)- Miss Virginia National American Miss 2006
- Molly Ford (Epsilon Chi) - Blogger: Smart, Pretty, and Awkward